We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Albert Richard Wells (Ret’d) on 21 July 2019 peacefully in his home in Kamloops BC three months shy of his 104th birthday. Albert was a WW II veteran and was the last known surviving D-Day veteran of the 6th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers.
Albert Wells was born in 1915 near Ashcroft BC and attended school in Merritt BC between the ages of eight and 15. As a teenager he began working in the construction industry and eventually moved into a career in mining. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1942, after the fall of Hong Kong where three of his close friends were killed.
Offered the opportunity to become an officer in the RCE, Albert chose to remain as an enlisted member. He completed his basic training in Vernon BC and, due to his civilian expertise in mining and construction, he was assigned to Camp Chilliwack in Vedder Crossing BC before shipping to England. Qualified as a Driver Mechanic, he was assigned to 6 th Field Company, RCE in England as a driver. On D-Day, Albert landed with his Company at Courselles Sur-Mer. He soon ended up assisting with the setup and operation of a potable water point for the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade in the village of Pierrepont. Albert remained with 6th Fd Coy throughout the European Campaign through France and Belgium and on to Holland from where the unit was repatriated in October 1945.
After repatriation to Canada Albert began a very successful career in mining throughout BC and eventually retired to Mission BC in his late 60s.
In 2015 Albert Wells was made a Knight of the National Order of the Legion d’honeur by the Republic of France, in recognition of his wartime actions to liberate France from German occupation.
By Albert's request there will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in Tulameen, BC on 6 October 2019. Online condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home.
Also see: A Tribute to Sapper Albert Wells submitted by BGen Jerry Silva, CD, (Ret'd)
